Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-08
HE Is FOUND AT LAST
BILLY" KISSANE DISCOVERED IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
The Nan Of knch NOiOristy and VOlaninOus History
Tracked DOwu-Hs Says the Charges Against
Him are False-An Alleged Gigantic
Scheme Of Blaekmailng.

SAN FRANCISCO, April wv. Kissan,
Rogers or W. X. Rogers, as he is known
here, the criminal who is endeavoring +,
have an old indictment quashed in New
York, is in hiding in this city.
He has broken down under the weigh
of accusations against him, and only few
of his most intimate friends know wher,
he is.
From one of his relatives the correspond
ent has just obtained Rogers version o
the story, with the assurance that if il
came from his own lips it would be exact
ly the same.
Rogers says that the Martha Washington
case grew outE of the refusal of the insu
ance companies to pay the insurance OIL
the cargo of that vessel. The charges weTt
trumped up against him and others, and
the case was tried in the Ohio Circuit
Court, full report of which is given in
Volume >, United States Circuit Cour;
PAOSScuihe5o- ShiOy pttBc O1O W OiO.
Having been acquitted by the jury with;
out any testimony being offered by the de.
Tense, Rogers, or Kissane, as he acknowl
edges his name is, went TO New Yogk He
says that the enmity of persons whom he
had beaten in the insurance case followed
him there, and that the alleged forged
check was put up job to send him to the
penitentiary. He had no money for his
defense, was in strange city, and was
convicted. His friends afterwards rallied
and. managed to get him pardoned.
Ruined in pocket and reputation, he says
he became reckless, and while in that mood
Joined the Walker expedition to Nicaragua.
The death which he sought did not come.
He told his story TO Walker, who sympa.
thized with him, and later, in pronuncia.
mento, announced that he had appointed
William kissane Rogers one of his minis,
ters and aides de camp. Having thus been
renamed in half-legal form and allowed
himself to be known by that name ever
since. Rogers says that his enemies have
shown devilish ingenuity in publishing
these stories against him.
He says all these stories are based on q
slight foundation of fact, but the whole
truth, he says, has never been told. He
says it has been alleged that he was muir
derer, or at all events had been charged
with murder. This story was repeated in
Sonoma county by two enemies. 1t was
sought to work up public sentiment against
him then on that account Just as it is now.
The truth is, he says, he was arrested In
Ohio on charge ofmurder, but the sequel
is not mentioned, and is studiously con-
cealed by his enemies The man who was
said to have been murdered was named
Lewis, and during Kissane's examination
for the alleged crime Mr.. Lewis turned up
safe and sound, having taken trip down
the Ohio river
As to General Darr, Rogers claims he
does not know the man and never knew OF
his existence till receuily. The alleged in
cendiarism, charged against Rogers
could not have been committed
by him, as il took place
long after he left that part OF the country
where it occurred. Darr, as Rogers says,
can have no shadow ofa just claim against
him, and he declares that he has no hesita-
lion in saying, and his friends say with him
that the whole thing is gigantic piece OF
blackmail.